Sunshine Coast Hinterland Times

It’s easy to see why parrots fascinate people so much. They’re not only intelligent and gorgeous to look at, but they can be hilarious mimics. Jokes about parrots often reveal them outsmarting humans in the punchline, and one of the funniest lines of all time comes at the climax of the Monty Python comedy sketch about a dead parrot. John Cleese finally screams, “This is an ex-parrot!” Dail Malins also revels in the comic personality of parrots. Her Parrots in Paradise show close to the Glasshouse Mountains often has tour groups laughing with astonishment at the bizarre circus tricks and comical chatter of her avian friends.

Dail and her husband Mark started attracting attention with bird tricks at Caboolture markets years ago, and they have been running their parrot sanctuary and public show for only two years. But now there’s a steady stream of visitors who want to share this unique experience. “I was born in Uganda and had my first parrot when I was five years old”, says Dail. “It was an African Grey and it went everywhere with me, even on my bike. Dail was fascinated by the learning abilities of animals and she started by training cats to retrieve. “I proved, beyond all reasonable doubt that cats can perceive colour very easily”, says Dail with some pride. “Then when I was 21 I lived in New Zealand, next door to a big parrot breeder and he employed me to do his hand rearing for him. “I was playing with one of my parrots one day and I realised that he understood fully what I was saying. I could see that they don’t work to signals, but everything is verbal. You see if I change my mind and change the pattern of tricks, they understand and follow my voice. Their intelligence is way out there.”

Dail and Mark’s Barr Street property is a wooded block with a collection of bird cages containing scores of parrots, cockatoos, galahs and budgerigars. This unusual home for parrots is littered with toys of every shape and description and Dail knows the name of every one of her birds and their various idiosyncrasies. In many cases, she has nicknames for them too. And there is no denying the affection runs both ways with parrots willing to be cuddled and kissed by their eccentric landlady. Dail is quick to say that parrots need this interaction and shouldn’t be kept in cages continuously. “They are intelligent birds who live up to 90 years of age, so how would you like to be locked up for life! And people feed them only seeds when seed is only a part of their diet. It’s like saying you’re going to eat Wheat Bix for the rest of your life!”

Visitors come from all over the state for the two hour parrot performance. They have coffee and cake first in the garden and are delighted to come across geese, goats, swans and chickens wandering throughout the property. “Anything with feathers on is mine”, says Dail with a laugh. “Anything with four legs and fur is my husband’s, because he’s the farmer.” Dail dons a headset microphone to mastermind the parrot show under a makeshift marquee. She is assisted by a couple of trained volunteers but interestingly, it’s illegal to train native birds to do tricks in Queensland. So, Dail features the highly domesticated Asian Alexandrines in her show. These parrots are obviously very smart and surprise the audience by riding miniature circus toys, playing basketball, sliding down flying foxes, pushing prams and wearing funny costumes.

Dail has her favourites like Kumar the Alexandrine, the red-tailed black cockatoo called Elvis and the stunning major Mitchell that loves to show off its plumage. With real enthusiasm Dail imparts her wealth of knowledge about parrots. The show is well worth seeing even if you think circus tricks are strictly for the birds!

Ring Dale Malins at Parrots in Paradise , 2 Barrs Road, Glasshouse Mountains. Ph: 5438 7719.